Prevalence of hepatitis A virus infection in children with biliary atresia.
Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health
;
2004 Dec; 35(4): 959-61
Article
in English
| IMSEAR
| ID: sea-33963
ABSTRACT
This study aimed at identifying the prevalence of hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection in children with biliary atresia (BA). Blood samples were collected from children with BA whom had undergone portoenterostomy and attended the pediatric liver clinic, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital between May 2002 and May 2003. Seventy-seven patients, 45 females and 32 males, ages ranging from 0.2-19 years (mean +/- SD = 5.9 +/- 4.6 years) were enrolled in the study. The HAV seropositivity rate of patients aged <10 years and > or =10 years were 13.1% and 25%, respectively. The seropositivity rate of patients with favorable outcomes (total bilirubin level < or =2 mg/dl) and unfavorable outcome (total bilirubin level >2 mg/dl) were 17.5% and 13.5%, respectively, which were not statistically different (p = 0.6). Children suffering from BA with failed portoenterostomy are at risk of developing severe liver damage at an early age. In these patients a superimposed acute liver infection due to a hepatitis virus, including HAV, may affect liver function and lead to particularly severe disease. The effectiveness of HAV immunization in this particular group of children merits further study.
Full text:
Available
Index:
IMSEAR (South-East Asia)
Main subject:
Thailand
/
Biliary Atresia
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Child
/
Child, Preschool
/
Prevalence
/
Adolescent
/
Adult
Type of study:
Prevalence study
/
Risk factors
Country/Region as subject:
Asia
Language:
English
Journal:
Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health
Year:
2004
Type:
Article
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